Legislation

(October 25, 1991)

The languages of the peoples of the RSFSR are the historical and cultural heritage of the state of Russia, and shall be under the protection of the state.

The languages of the peoples of the RSFSR are a key element of culture, and the basic manifestation of national identity and individual self-awareness.

The languages of the various peoples in the RSFSR function in a diversity of forms and spheres of intercourse. It is traditional for members of the multinational population on the territory of the Russia Federation to be bilingual and multilingual.

The present Act is designed to create the conditions for the preservation and the equal and unique development of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR, providing the basis for shaping a system of legal regulation of the activity of juridical and natural persons, and the framing of subordinate and enabling legislation to implement the provisions of the present Act.

Throughout the territory of the RSFSR, the state shall promote the development of the national languages, of bilingualism and multilingualism.

In the RSFSR, there shall be no propaganda of hostility or disdain for any language, no creation of barriers, restrictions or privileges in the use of languages in contravention of the established principles of national policy, or any other violations of legislation on the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR and of the republics within the RSFSR.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL

Article 1 (RSFSR legislation on the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR)

1. RSFSR legislation on the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR shall consist of the present Act and other legislative acts of the RSFSR and of the republics within the RSFSR enacted in conformity therewith.

2. The present Act shall cover the spheres of language intercourse subject to legal regulation, and shall not establish any juridical norms in the use of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR in interpersonal unofficial relations or in the activity of public and religious associations and organizations.

Article 2 (State guarantees of language sovereignty of peoples and individuals)

1. Language sovereignty shall be the set of rights of peoples and individuals in the preservation and all-round development of the native language, and the freedom to choose and use the language of intercourse.

2. On the territory of the RSFSR, the state shall guarantee the language sovereignty of each people, irrespective of its numerical size and legal status, and the language sovereignty of the individual, irrespective of origin, social or property status, race, nation, gender, education, attitude to religion and place of residence.

3. The language sovereignty of peoples and individuals shall be protected by the law. No one shall have the right to make a person use this or that language against his will, except in the cases provided for by RSFSR legislation. The rules laid down by the present Act shall apply to RSFSR citizens, and also to stateless persons permanently resident on RSFSR territory.

Article 3 (Legal status of languages)

1. The state shall recognize the equal rights of all the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR to their preservation and development. All the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR shall enjoy the support of the state.

2. The Russian language, the main medium of intercourse between the peoples of the RSFSR, shall, in accordance with the established historical and cultural traditions, have the status of the state language of the RSFSR throughout the territory of the RSFSR.

3. The republics within the RSFSR shall, in conformity with the present Act, take their own decisions on the legal status of the languages of the peoples inhabiting their territory. The republics within the RSFSR may establish the status of state language of the republic within the RSFSR.

4. In areas of compact population with national-territorial formations or living outside their boundaries, the language of the population of the given locality may be used alongside the Russian language and the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR in official intercourse. The manner in which languages are used in such localities shall be determined by the legislation of the RSFSR and of the republics within the RSFSR.

Article 4 (Guarantees of protection of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR)

1. The languages of the peoples of the RSFSR shall enjoy the protection of the state. The organs of legislative, executive and judicial power in the RSFSR shall guarantee and assure all the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR of social, economic and juridical protection.

2. Social protection of the languages shall provide for the conduct of scientifically-grounded language policy designed for the preservation, development and study of all the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR on the territory of the RSFSR.

3. Economic protection of the languages shall imply specific- purpose budgetary and other financial backup of state and scientific programmes for the preservation and development of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR and conduct, for these purposes, of a policy of tax privileges.

4. Juridical protection of the languages shall imply the liability of juridical and natural persons for violation of RSFSR legislation on the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR.

Article 5 (Guarantee of the rights of RSFSR citizens, irrespective of their knowledge of language)

1. The state shall guarantee to RSFSR citizens the exercise of the basic political, economic, social and cultural rights, irrespective of their knowledge of any language whatsoever.

2. Knowledge or no knowledge of a language may not serve as ground for restriction of the language rights of RSFSR citizens. Violation of the language rights of peoples and individuals shall entail liability under the law.

Article 6 (RSFSR jurisdiction in the protection, study and use of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR)

The RSFSR, as represented by the higher organs of state power of the republic, shall, in the protection and use of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR, have jurisdiction over:

-establishment of the general principles of RSFSR legislation on the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR;

-assured functioning of the Russian language as the state language of the RSFSR;

-promotion of development of the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR;

-creation of conditions for the preservation and development of the languages of the numerically small peoples and ethnic groups not having their own national-state and national-territorial formations or living outside the boundaries thereof;

-promotion of the study of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR outside the RSFSR.

Article 7 (State programs for preservation and development of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR)

1. State programs of the RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR for the preservation and development of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR shall be drawn up by the respective organs of legislative and executive power, and ratified by the RSFSR Supreme Soviet and the Supreme Soviets of the republics within the RSFSR. Their implementation within the fixed period shall be ensured by the organs of executive power.

The funding of state programs for the preservation and development of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR shall be provided for in the drafting of budgets at every level.

2. State programs for the preservation and development of the languages shall provide for action along such lines as promotion of publications of literature in all the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR, financing of their research, creation of conditions for the use of the various languages in the mass media, arrangement of the training of specialists working in the preservation and development of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR, development of the public education system for the purpose of enhancing the language culture of the peoples of the RSFSR, and others.

CHAPTER II.

THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS IN THE USE OF THE LANGUAGES OF THE PEOPLES OF THE RSFSR

Article 8 (The right to choose the language of intercourse)

The right to choose and use the language of intercourse by citizens of the RSFSR in areas of intercourse subject to legal regulation under the present Act shall be determined by the legislation of the RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR.

Article 9 (The right to choose the language of education and training)

1. RSFSR citizens shall have the right of freely choosing the language of education and training.

2. The state shall ensure, on the territory of the RSFSR, the creation of a system of educational and training institutions, and other forms of education and training in the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR.

3. The right to choose the educational and training institution with this or that language of children's education and training shall belong to parents or to persons acting in their stead, in conformity with RSFSR legislation.

4. The language of education in secondary, secondary specialized and higher schools shall be determined by the legislation of the RSFSR and of the republics within the RSFSR.

5. RSFSR citizens living outside their national-state and national-territorial formations, or not having any, and members of numerically-small peoples and ethnic groups shall be given assistance by the state in arranging various forms of education and training in their native language, irrespective of their numbers, and in accordance with their needs.

Article 10 (Study and teaching of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR)

1. The state shall assure RSFSR citizens of conditions for the study and teaching of their native language and of other languages of the peoples of the RSFSR.

2. The Russian language, as the state language of the RSFSR, shall be studied in secondary, secondary specialized and higher schools.

3. The teaching of state and other languages in the republics within the RSFSR shall be carried on in conformity with their legislation.

4. Each people of the RSFSR without its own written language shall have the right to create its own native written language. The state shall ensure the conditions requisite thereto.

5. The state shall create the conditions for research into all the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR.

CHAPTER III.

USE OF THE LANGUAGES OF THE PEOPLES OF THE RSFSR IN THE HIGHER ORGANS OF STATE POWER AND ADMINISTRATION IN THE RSFSR

Article 11 (The working language of the highest legislative organs of the RSFSR)

1. Work in the highest legislative organs of the RSFSR shall be conducted in the state language of the RSFSR.

2. People's deputies of the RSFSR meeting in congress, at sessions of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet, at sittings of the Presidium, the Soviet of the Republic, and the Soviet of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR shall have the right to speak in any state language of the republics within the RSFSR, at their discretion. Their speeches shall be translated into the state language of the RSFSR in the manner established by decisions of the highest legislative organs of the RSFSR.

3. Hearings in the commissions of the Soviet of the Republic and the Soviet of Nationalities, and in the committees of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet shall be heard in the state language of the RSFSR and, whenever necessary, in any other language of the peoples of the RSFSR, duly provided with translation.

4. Draft laws and other normative acts shall be submitted for consideration by congresses of people's deputies of the RSFSR, the RSFSR Supreme Soviet, the Presidium, the Soviet of Nationalities, the Soviet of the Republic, the commissions of the chambers, and the committees of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet in the state language of the RSFSR.

Article 12 (The language of publication of the laws and other legal acts of the RSFSR)

The texts of the laws of the RSFSR and of other legal acts adopted by congresses of people's deputies of the RSFSR, the RSFSR Supreme Soviet, the Presidium, the Soviet of the Republic, the Soviet of Nationalities of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet, and the President of the RSFSR shall be published in the state language of the RSFSR and the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR, all being official and equally authentic.

Article 13 (The language of publication of laws and other legal act of the republics within the RSFSR)

The texts of laws and other legal acts adopted by the legislative organs of the republics within the RSFSR shall be published in their state languages and in the state language of the RSFSR, in conformity with the legislation of the RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR, all being official and equally authentic.

Article 14 (The language of holding elections to legislative organs of the RSFSR, of the President of the RSFSR, and of referendums)

1. In the preparation and holding of elections to legislative organs and of the President of the RSFSR, use shall be made of the state language of the RSFSR, the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR, and other languages designated by the legislation of the RSFSR and of the republics within the RSFSR.

2. The languages used in preparation and holding of all-Russia referendums in the republics within the RSFSR shall be designated in conformity with the legislation of these republics.

3. Ballot papers for elections and referendums shall be couched in the state language of the RSFSR and in the languages of the republics in which they are held. The documentation forwarded to the central organs of the RSFSR on the elections and referendums shall be couched in the state language of the RSFSR.

CHAPTER IV.

USE OF THE LANGUAGES OF THE PEOPLES OF THE RSFSR IN THE ACTIVITY OF STATE ORGANS, ORGANIZATIONS, ENTERPRISES AND INSTITUTIONS

Article 15 (Use of languages in the work of state organs, organizations, enterprises and institutions)

1. The state language of the RSFSR, the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR, and other languages of the peoples of the RSFSR shall be used in the activity of state organs, organizations, enterprises and institutions of the RSFSR.

2. RSFSR citizens not conversant with the state language of the RSFSR or the state language of the republic within the RSFSR shall be given the right to speak at meetings, conferences and assemblies in state organs, organizations, enterprises and institutions in the language in which they are conversant. Whenever necessary, they shall be provided with a translation.

3. RSFSR citizens not conversant with the language used to hold meeting, conference or assembly in state organs, organizations, enterprises and institutions shall, whenever necessary, be provided with a translation into a language acceptable to these citizens or into the state language of the RSFSR.

4. RSFSR citizens shall be entitled to address proposals, applications and complaints to state organs, organizations, enterprises and institutions of the RSFSR in the state language of the RSFSR, in their native language or in any other language of the peoples of the RSFSR with which they are conversant.

5. Replies to proposals, applications and complaints from RSFSR citizens addressed to state organs; organizations, enterprises and institutions of the RSFSR shall be given in the language of the address. In the event of it is being impossible to give a reply in the language of address; use shall be made of the state language of the RSFSR.

6. Statutes on language qualification requirements of the RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR may provide for definite limitations and norms in the use of languages in professional intercourse.

Article 16 (Use of languages in official business records)

1. Official business records in state organs; organizations, enterprises and institutions on RSFSR territory shall be carried on in the Russian language, as the state language of the RSFSR. Official business records in the republics within the RSFSR shall also be carried on in the state languages of the given republics. The procedure for the use of languages in official business records shall be determined by the legislation of the RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR.

2. The texts of documents (forms, seals, marks and stamps) and signboards with the names of state organs, organizations, enterprises and institutions shall be done in the state language of the RSFSR, the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR, and other languages of the peoples of the RSFSR, as determined by the legislation of the republics within the RSFSR.

3. Where people speaking a different language live in compact settlement, official business records in state organs, organizations, enterprises and institutions may be carried on not only in the state language of the RSFSR, the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR, but also in the language of the majority of the population in such locality. The procedure governing the use of languages in official business records in such localities shall be determined by the legislation of the RSFSR.

4. Official documents certifying the identity of citizens or information about him or her (passport, certificate of birth, marriage or death, work-record books, matriculation and graduation diplomas from academic institutions, military-service cards and other documents) shall be done with due account of national naming traditions in the Russian language and in the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR on whose territories these documents are issued.

Article 17 (Use of languages in official correspondence)

Official correspondence and other forms of official relations between state organs, organizations, enterprises and institutions of the republics within the RSFSR with addressees in the RSFSR shall be conducted in the state language of the RSFSR.

Article 18 (Use of languages in legal proceedings and procedural acts in law-enforcement agencies)

1. Legal proceedings and procedural acts in the RSFSR Constitutional Court, the RSFSR Supreme Court, the RSFSR Supreme Arbitration Court, and other law-enforcement agencies of the RSFSR shall be conducted in the state language of the RSFSR.

2. Legal proceedings and procedural acts in law-enforcement agencies of the republics within the RSFSR shall be conducted in the state languages of these republics and/or in the language of the majority of compact-settlement population speaking another language in any locality whatsoever, and also in the state language of the RSFSR, in conformity with RSFSR legislation.

3. Persons taking part in a case and not versed in the language or languages in which the legal proceedings and procedural acts are conducted in law-enforcement agencies shall be guaranteed the use of the services of translator in procedural acts, including the giving of explanations and testimony, and full knowledge of the materials in the case, and shall also be guaranteed the right of addressing the court in their native language.

4. Breach of the procedure governing the use of languages in legal proceedings and procedural acts in law-enforcement agencies, as established by the legislation of the RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR, shall be ground for a repeal of all the other procedural decisions taken in cases under adjudication.

Article 19 (Use of languages in notarial acts)

1. The rules for determining the language of legal proceedings shall apply to acts by notaries public and other state agencies performing notarial acts.

2. Documents shall be drawn up in the state language of the RSFSR, where citizen applying for performance of notarial act is not conversant with the language in which legal proceedings are conducted.

Article 20 (The language of the mass media)

1. Publications of all-Russia newspapers and journals, and all- Russia television and radio broadcasts shall be in the Russian language, as the state language of the RSFSR. All-Russia newspapers and journals may also be published in other languages, at the founders' discretion.

2. The Russian language, the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR, and other languages of the peoples inhabiting their territories shall be used in the mass media of the republics within the RSFSR.

3. The state language of the RSFSR, the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR, and other languages, with due account of the interests of the population, shall be used in interpretation and dubbing of cinema and video films.

4. The procedure governing the use of languages in the mass media shall be determined by the legislation of the RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR.

Article 21 (Languages used in industry, communications, transport and power generation)

1. In industry, communications, transport and power generation throughout the territory of the RSFSR use shall be made of the Russian language, as the state language of the RSFSR, and also of other languages, in conformity with international and inter-republic treaties of the RSFSR.

2. In industry, communications, transport and power generation on the local level, use may be made, alongside the state language of the RSFSR and the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR, of other languages, with due account of the interests of the local population.

Article 22 (Languages used in the services and commercial activity)

1. The procedure governing the use of languages in the services and in commercial activity shall be determined by the legislation of the RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR. Refusal to service citizens under the pretext of lack of knowledge of a language shall be inadmissible, and shall entail liability in conformity with the legislation of the RSFSR and of the republics within the RSFSR.

2. Business correspondence and records in the services and in commercial activity shall be conducted in the state language of the RSFSR and the other languages provided for by treaties between business partners.

CHAPTER V.

LANGUAGE OF GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES AND INSCRIPTIONS, TOPOGRAPHICAL DESIGNATIONS AND ROAD SIGNS

Article 23 (Procedure for determining the language of geographical names and inscriptions, topographical designations and road signs)

The RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR, territories and regions, autonomous region, autonomous areas of the RSFSR shall, within their jurisdiction, determine the list of territories and objects where geographical names and inscriptions, topographical designations and road signs must be done in the state language of the RSFSR, in the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR, and also in other languages, with due account of the interests of the local population.

Article 24 (The duties of the organs of executive power in the design and installation of inscriptions, topographical designations and road signs)

The organs of executive power shall ensure the installation of inscriptions, topographical designations and road signs, and shall bear liability for their proper design and maintenance, in conformity with the legislation of the RSFSR and international usage.

Article 25 (Naming and renaming of territories, populated localities and other objects)

1. The naming and renaming of territories, populated localities and other objects shall be made in the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR, in conformity with the legislation of the RSFSR and of the republics within the RSFSR.

2. The procedure governing the use of languages in the naming and renaming of the aforesaid objects shall be determined by the organs of state power having management thereof in conformity with their jurisdiction.

CHAPTER VI.

USE OF LANGUAGES IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE RSFSR AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND REPUBLICS WITHIN THE RSFSR

Article 26 (Use of languages in relations between the RSFSR and foreign countries and international organizations)

1. The activity of RSFSR representations abroad, and of RSFSR foreign-policy, external-economic and other institutions shall be conducted in the state language of the RSFSR and in the language of the respective country.

2. Treaties, agreements and other international acts concluded in the name of the RSFSR shall be done in the state language of the RSFSR and in the language of the other contracting country, or in other languages, by mutual agreement between the parties.

3. The state language of the RSFSR and other languages shall be used in negotiations in the name of the RSFSR with representatives of other countries and with international organizations, by mutual agreement between the parties and in conformity with international agreements.

Article 27 (Use of languages in relations between the RSFSR and republics within the RSFSR)

In relations between the RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR use shall be made, on a basis of equality, of the state language of the RSFSR, of the state languages of the republics within the RSFSR, and of other languages, in conformity with the legislation of the RSFSR and of the republics within the RSFSR.

Chapter VII.

LIABILITY FOR BREACH OF RSFSR LEGISLATION ON THE LANGUAGES OF THE PEOPLES OF THE RSFSR

Article 28 (Liability for breach of RSFSR legislation on the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR)

Acts of juridical and natural persons in breach of RSFSR legislation on the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR shall entail liability and shall be appealed against in the established manner, in conformity with the legislation of the RSFSR and the republics within the RSFSR.

RSFSR SUPREME SOVIET DECREE ENACTING THE LANGUAGES OF THE RSFSR PEOPLES ACT

The RSFSR Supreme Soviet has resolved:

1. To enact the Languages of the RSFSR Peoples Act upon publication.

2. To establish that parts two, three and five of Article 15, part one of Article 22, and Article 23 shall enter into force on June 1, 1992; part four of Article 15, on June 1, 1993; part five of Article 9 and part six of Article 15, on June 1, 1995.

3. To ratify the Declaration on the Languages of the Peoples of Russia.

4. The Commission of the Soviet of Nationalities of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet on the Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Peoples of the RSFSR, and the RSFSR Supreme Soviet Committee on Legislation shall, by February 1, 1992, submit for consideration by the RSFSR Supreme Soviet, proposals on bringing the legislative acts of the RSFSR into conformity with the present Act.

5. The Commission of the Soviet of Nationalities of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet on the Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Peoples of the RSFSR shall, by March 1, 1992, work out and submit for consideration by the RSFSR Supreme Soviet a draft conception of the RSFSR State Program for the Preservation and Development of the Languages of the Peoples of the RSFSR.

6. The RSFSR Council of Ministers shall:

-by February 1, 1992, bring RSFSR Government decisions into conformity with the Languages of the RSFSR Peoples Act;

-by February 1, 1992, ensure review and repeal by RSFSR ministries, state committees and departments of their normative acts contravening the present Act;

-by December 1, 1992, draw up an RSFSR state program for the preservation and development of the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR on the basis of the conception adopted by the RSFSR Supreme Soviet, providing for the establishment, within the system of the RSFSR State Committee for the Affairs of Nationalities, of a structural division responsible for the elaboration and implementation of the aforesaid program;

-within three months of the adoption of the present Act, create an Institute of the Languages of the Peoples of the RSFSR as scientific backup for the elaboration and implementation of the RSFSR State Program for the Preservation and Development of the Languages of the Peoples of the RSFSR;

-within three months of the adoption of the present Act, work out and submit for consideration by the Presidium of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet a Statute on language qualification requirements of the RSFSR on workers in the various professions and posts;

-by January 1, 1992, create a Russia State Service of language translations, and republican (republics within the RSFSR), territorial, regional, autonomous region and autonomous area services of language translations, providing within them structures ensuring translations into the languages of the peoples of the RSFSR;

-from 1992 on, provide, in the RSFSR budget, appropriation of funds for the elaboration and implementation of the RSFSR State Program for the Preservation and Development of the Languages of the Peoples of the RSFSR, and the creation of the Institute of the Languages of the Peoples of the RSFSR, and of the Russia state service of language translations.

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